Brewery workers agree new pay deal

Molson Coors brewery workers in Burton-on-Trent have ended a long-running dispute over pay and conditions by voting to accept a revised package which will lead to wage cuts.

Unite said its members at the Molson Coors brewery had “voted to accept a second revised package put forward by the management.

The deal includes a pay reduction of £862 from next January and £862 from January 2015 for all workers previously facing cuts of up to £9,000 a year. Shift proposals, which the union said could have led to workers being called in while on holiday, have been withdrawn.

The deal also see severance and redundancy payments available for all workers facing a pay cut and pay protection not only fully retained, but temporarily improved until 2017. This will mean workers earnings’ will now contractually guaranteed for at least the next five years.

Unite regional officer Rick Coyle said: “This workforce stunned Molson Coors by the strength, determination and scale of the solidarity they displayed.

“The 97% vote in favour of strike action will never be forgotten. Unite is proud to have delivered an honourable outcome for members in a dire situation that originally saw some workers face losing their homes.”

A spokesperson for Molson Coors said: “We are pleased with the result of Friday’s vote, which will allow us to continue with our plans to build a sustainable future for brewing in Burton so that we can compete in a challenging marketplace.

“We would like to thank our employees for their patience and support over the consultation period and Unite for the positive contribution it has made to these vital negotiations.”

The Burton brewery produces Carling, Grolsch, Coors Lite and Cobra lagers, as well as beers including Worthington, White Shield and Stones.